Australasian Viral Hepatitis Elimination Conference elimination

A report back on Ms Sinead Sheils's session: HCV care in OPT clinic setting: changing Model of Care and inclusion of peer worker can increase client engagement and HCV screening rates.

Sinead spoke about the benefits of her model, which involves collaboration between a Nurse Practitioner and a Peer worker to increase access to DAA therapy. The peer worker significantly increased engagement in screening by establishing rapport and endorsing the validity of the treatments to fellow peers. This also freed up the Nurse Practitioner to perform clinical care duties.

A report back on Sinead Sheils, ‘Impact of Implementation of a Collaborative and Assertive HCV Focused Model of Care on Screening and Treatment Uptake, in a Metropolitan, Private Opioid Pharmacotherapy Clinic”.

A report back on Kerrin Param's session All stories matter in HCV elimination.

Since DAA Hep C treatment was made available on the PBS in 2016, we have seen increases in coordinated MDT efforts. The hepatology partnership model is one of those initiatives. They established community-based clinics in the areas of Caloundra to Bundaberg and in Maryborough prison. By establishing these community-based clinics, they broke down barriers and made Hep C treatment accessible and available to locals within those communities.